Near Montana’s Glacier National Park, the town of Whitefish boasts a largely rustic architectural vernacular: log cabins, stone walls, steeply pitched roofs. And when the owner of a sloping forested lot with views of Whitefish Lake and a ski mountain wanted to build a home that was modern and clean, he intended the design to feel like it still fit with the local style.
He tapped architect David Koel of CTA Architects Engineers and interior designer Hunter Dominick of Hunter and Company Interior Design to help create a two-story home that was simple, airy and locked into the landscape with natural, humble materials. In other words, a home that belonged right where it was.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Whitefish, Montana
Builders: Denman Construction
Size: 2,500 square feet (232 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
The simple, rectangular house has a steeply pitched roofline that echoes the angles of the surrounding mountains and sheds snow and rain away from the entries. The pale stone fireplace chimney serves as an exclamation point to the exterior, which is clad in red cedar. The second-floor main-suite balcony is partially a green roof. “We love to do contemporary work in a rustic Montana world,” says architect Koel.
At dusk the translucent garage door is a welcoming lantern toward the street. The second-floor slot window provides light to the master suite while retaining privacy.
The first floor includes an open living, dining and kitchen space, as well as a guest suite and laundry. Window walls provide views of the lake. Interior designer Dominick incorporated some of the owner’s traditional pieces from a previous residence, as well as specifying new, contemporary furnishings.
The open-tread staircase leads to the second-floor main suite. The polished concrete flooring contains in-floor radiant heating, lowering the home’s energy costs.
The home’s entry was deliberately tucked away from the main living area; the entry sequence is through a gallery-like space where the homeowner displays his contemporary art collection. The door is a custom design by the interior designer, made of cold-rolled steel.
A lack of upper cabinetry keeps the kitchen connected to the dining area and to the views. A wall of pale green glass tile makes a statement and anchors the interior to its woodsy surroundings.
The counters are recycled content and create plenty of space for serious cooking and entertaining. The doorway to the right leads to a wine storage space.
Stainless steel appliances add an industrial touch to the open kitchen.
The kitchen sink has views of the landscape. The cabinetry is Zebrano laminate.
The second-floor main suite includes a sitting area, bedroom, bath and closet. Cork flooring was chosen for its natural, insulative quality.
The slot window in the main bedroom frames views of the nearby ski slopes, yet maintains privacy from the street.
The main bathroom includes a concrete vanity counter with an integral sink. The wall is clad in quartzite mosaic tile.
The slate-tiled balcony off the main suite leads to a green roof, landscaped with mosses and other native plantings. The balcony doubles as a canopy for patio spaces below.
A steel and cable railing system and open-tread vertical-grain fir steps create a sculptural staircase to the second-story main bedroom. The flooring is cork.
High-gloss cabinetry, art and accessories make the laundry room a destination, not an afterthought.
The cozy guest suite has more of a rustic ambience, with striped bedding and wood-based table lamps.
The exterior’s razor-like lines are enhanced by metal detail at the corners, allowing the red cedar cladding to weather and shift slightly, while keeping the corners crisp.
Stone, wood, steel and glass make up the exterior’s simple palette and help to anchor the house to its natural setting. The front terrace provides a glimpse of the home’s interior.
The rear of the home opens to lakeside views. The tapered end of the second floor contains storage, mechanical and utilities, accessible from the back of the main suite.
COMMENTARY: Just love this house. Love the clean, modern and minimalist design of this home. Lots of windows and natural light give the house a lot of warmth. Follow my blog by joining my newsfeed and get my posts on a regular basis. You will also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ by doing a Google search or clicking the icons below.
Courtesy of an article dated March 24, 2014 appearing in Houzz
Comments